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Heather Ketron Head of Youth Services Ashburn Library Loudoun County Public Library Maureen Smith Head of Youth Services Rust Library Loudoun County Public Library 1
Heather KetronHead of Youth ServicesAshburn LibraryLoudoun County Public Library
Maureen SmithHead of Youth ServicesRust LibraryLoudoun County Public Library
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Virginia Library Association Annual ConferenceOctober 2011
123 Math & Science
Presentation PreviewBackground InformationProgram ResourcesSample Program Plans & ActivitiesQuestions
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BackgroundLoudoun County Public Library developed
a Math and Science program series that reaches children between the ages of 8 - 11.
These staff presentations explore a variety of math and science topics through games, puzzles and experiments.
The Loudoun County Public Library’s 123 Math & Science program was featured in the October 2010 issue of American Libraries.
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Background (2) The Math and Science series was developed
in 2010 and launched during the annual Summer Reading Program.
The programs are presented by librarians, library assistants, and with the help of teen volunteers.
The programs are offered at all 7 branches of the library system. Program scheduling during the school year varies from branch to branch.
Promotion = Pages (print calendar of events); library website; flyers; and displays.
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PurposeIn accordance with Loudoun County
Public Library policy, the 123 Math & Science programs shall exist to meet informational needs; attract new library users; and spotlight library books and materials.
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ObjectivesThrough participation in the 123 Math & Science
program, children ages 8 – 11 will share educational and recreational experiences. Specifically, participants will:Maintain educational gains and review
mathematical and science conceptsInformally explore a variety of math and
science topics through games, puzzles, and experiments
Interact with peers through large and small group activities
Become aware of library books and media through book talks and short viewings
Share knowledge and ideas with peers
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FundingFunding for 123 Math and Science
comes from the Loudoun County Public Library operating budget.
Some branches also receive funding from Advisory Boards.
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ParticipationFrom June 2010 – August 2011
166 123 Math & Science programs were presented in LCPL branches
Average attendance was 22 participants during the school year and 32 during the summer months
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Program Development123 Math & Science program plans were
developed through library staff collaborationutilizing topics that: follow several streams
in the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL)to take advantage of juvenile popular
interestto promote usage of
science and math library materials both print and electronic.
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Staff Collaboration- Math
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Staff Collaboration - Science
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Staff Collaboration- Past Programs
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Program ResourcesLibrary collection & databasesLocal organizations & agenciesStaff! WebsitesVendors/Suppliers
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Sample Summer Programs123 Math 123 Science
Tangrams Crystals
Pentominoes Beautiful Butterflies
Mosaic Design Flipped! – Visual Perception
Structures Making Suspension Bridge
Buttons in a Bag – Probability Owl Pellet Dissection
Patterns Space Weather
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Sample topics during School Year
Body Math – Use your body to explore probability, calculations, and measurement. Sleuthing Secrets - Crack codes; analyze handwriting; compare plaster footprints; and learn how to sharpen your sleuthing skills.Measurement Rules: Length, width, area, volume, temperature, mass, weight, time, grids, and graphs – we will measure absolutely everything!
Amazing Adaptations: Identify unique survival adaptations of plants and animals.Calculators + Kids = Fun! Use a calculator to solve riddles and puzzles.
The Real McCoy: Discover several famous African American scientists and learn about their contributions to science.Garden Math: Plan a spring garden using area.
Pollution Solutions: Go green with recycling.
Marvels of Motion: Newton’s laws … in motion! 16
Sample School-Year Programs
Promoting Library MaterialsDemonstrate databases during
programBook DisplayBook TalksPrint list of related library materials,
Want to learn more about ___? Then try these …
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Role of Library StaffWe are supplementing, enriching , and extending
children’s knowledge of math and science topics vs. teaching a specific curriculum.
We complement school instruction, we do not provide instruction or remediation.
Our role is to facilitate and support children’s learning.
Our role is also to create a setting where children have a positive, life-enhancing experience in the library.
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Some Keys to SuccessChoice in many of our programs children
choose which activities they will participate in, they are not forced to do anything!
Friends: children work with friends, they don’t need to prove they can do it alone!
PositiveSupportiveEncouragingFOCUS =
Children vs. “teaching”
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Sample Math Program & Activities
PROBABILITY & STATISTICS
Program Objectives
•Participants will acquire a simple understanding of probability and statistics through hands-on experiments.•Participants will work as one group or several smaller groups to perform experiments as research teams.•Participants will become aware of library materials through book talks and displays.
Probability is a way of expressing knowledge or belief that an event will occur or has occurred. In mathematics, the concept has been given an exact meaning in probability theory that is used extensively in such areas of study as mathematics, statistics, finance, gambling, science and philosophy to draw conclusions about the likelihood of potential events.
Statistics is the science of making effective use of numerical data relating to groups of individuals or experiments. It deals with all aspects, including thecollection, the analysis and the interpretation of suchdata.
Definitions:
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Experiment 1 – Alphabetical Probability 15-20 minutesParticipants will predict what they believe the 5
most commonly used letters in the English language are. They will circle these 5 letters on
their chart noting the one letter they believe is the most common.
The participants will be divided into teams but work individually for the first exercise.
o Participants will select one or more sentences from a book and tally how many times each letter appears in the sentence.
o The group will compile their individual results and give a group report.
o The group results will be placed on a class chart (white board) to discuss their conclusions.
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Further
Discussions:What is so strange about these three sentences?
1.This is odd.
2.Do you know why?
3.Try and find out.
15-20 minutes
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Experiment 2 – Fair Game
15 – 20 minutesParticipants in teams will complete two activities to determine if a game is fair.
Activity 1: Rock, Paper ScissorsExplain how to play Rock Paper Scissors to any participants that may be unsure how to play. The participants will be in groups of 3 or 4 for this activity. Prior to starting the activity, the participants will determine who is player A, B, C and D. Each participant will have a role and specific directions for the activity:
o Participant A : gets a point if all players show the same sign (i.e. 3 rocks, 3 papers, 3 scissors).o Participant B: gets a point if only two players show the same signs.o Participant C: gets a point if all players show different signs.o Participant D: is the recorder.
Participants will play the game about 25 times following the above rules.The Recorder will tally the scores on the chart.
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DISCUSSION:
1. Is this game fair? Why?
2. Which player would you rather be?
3. How could the game be made more fair?
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Activity 2: Even or Odd?The participants will be in groups of three for this activity. Prior to starting the activity the participants will determine who is player A, B and C. Each player will have a roll and specific directions for the activity:
• Participant A scores a point if the sum is even.• Participant B scores a point if the sum is odd.• Participant C is the recorder.
They will roll the dice 20 times, alternating who throws the dice. The recorder will tally the scores on the chart.
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Experiment 2 – Fair Game
15 – 20 minutes
DISCUSSION:
1. Is this game fair? Why?
2. If it is not fair, how can you make it more fair?
Play the game a second time with the players changing positions. Compare the results with the first game.
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MATERIALS NEEDED
Experiment 1:1.Alphabetical Chart2.Pencils3.Books4.White Board
Experiment 2:• Activity 1: 1. Rock, Paper, Scissors Chart 2. Pencils
• Activity 2: 1. Even or Odd Chart 2. Pencils 3. 8 Dice
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LIBRARY RESOURCESNon-Fiction
• Probability: Probability Pistachio – E 519-2 Mur• It’s Probably Penny – E 519.2 Lee• Math Games for Middle School: Challenges and Skill Builders for Students at Every Level• J 510-712 Sal• Math Matters – J 510 Mat
Fiction• Take a Chance by Sandra Byrd• Finding Home by Sandra Markle• Pigs at Odds by Sharon McGinley-Nally
DVD• Bill Nye the Science Guy. Probability J519.2 Bil
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15-20 minutes
Sample Science Program & ActivitiesResearch Teams– The Case of the Similar Substances
Who ransacked the chef’s kitchen?Figure out what each substance is by performing tests
to identify the substances.
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Step #1: Observation
Substance Color Texture Odor
#1 White granular, gritty
Clean, sweet
#2 White Powdery, fine grains
No smell?
Experiment!
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Substance What happened when mixed with water?
#1 Dissolves, white liquid but no particles in water
#2 Does not dissolve, thick-white-cloudy
Substance What happened when mixed with vinegar?
#1 Fizzles, bubbles, then dissolves
#2 Does not dissolve, cloudy
Step #2: Check the Physical Properties
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Sugar Dissolves; liquid is clear
Baking Soda Dissolves; liquid is clear
Cornstarch Does not dissolve; liquid is milky
When mixed with water.
Sugar Dissolves
Baking Soda
Dissolves; makes fizzing & bubbling sounds
Cornstarch Does not dissolve; liquid is cloudy
When mixed with vinegar.
Who ransacked the chef’s kitchen?
What is substance #1? – from the caterer’s houseBaking Soda
What is substance #2? – from the banquet hall owner’s house
Cornstarch
What were the substances that the police found in the ransacked kitchen?
Flour and baking soda
Who ransacked the chef’s kitchen?The caterer!
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Activity Centers: Free Choice!Sharpen your sleuthing skills by trying the
activity centers.
• Fingerprinting• Match the shoe casts• You’re the Detective – Observational Skills• Handwriting Analysis• Math Code• Book Code• Book Browsing
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Book Talks
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Database DemoScience Online VideoTypes of Chemical Reactions
Audio Books
Mystery Snack & Media Viewing
Read the “clues”– ingredients—
Enriched flourVegetable oil
Skim milk cheeseMilkSalt
PaprikaYeast
What is the mystery snack?36
• Bill Nye the Science Guy: Forensic Science
Program EvaluationInvite participants to evaluate the
program.Post large sheets of paper on wall
with sentence starters I learned … My favorite was … I think the library …
Or utilize a paper form
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